Jonathan and I have some big stuff going on in our lives right now. I would be happy to tell anyone individually, but don't really want to broadcast it on our blog. Anyway, I would really appreciate any prayers in our direction because we are in the process of making some big life decisions, and I know being lifted up, will definitely help.
Let me know if you need prayers as well, because I would be happy to scratch your back since your scratching mine :)
Disclaimer: This has nothing to do with future children, sorry to disapoint.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Horse Blinders
In terms of females, I am definitely one of the most competitive I know, second only to olympic althetes and Pat Summit, but I have recently realized, this is not a good thing... I always felt like my competetive spirit made me work harder, and push to be the best, but as it turns out I think it just makes me over analyze situations, and push to hard at the beginning, saving nothing for the end.
This most recently hindered my performance during the 5K I ran in Norfolk over the weekend. I was very hot and if you humidity could be over 100%, I think it was. This did not deter me from worming my way to the front of the pack before the race began, and then trying to keep up with those in the front who were use to running the 5K at a 7 minute mile pace. I lasted for a good 1/2 mile before I realized we had only ran a half mile, and I was completely out of breath. Now I don't mean to brag or sound like I'm some amazing athlete, but I can regularly run 3 miles without killing myself, so being dead after a 1/2 mile, this is not good...
I was talking to my mom after the run, and how I felt this deep drive that I had to run as fast as everyone and as they passed me, I was a failure, and she said, in her typically endearing way "you need to get over that" and then continued with "you know those blinder things they have for horses, you need those!"
She was pretty funny, but she was also right. I need to figure out a way to put blinders on myself, not just in running, but also in life. I'm always so concerned with be happier, stronger, more successful, and just plain better than (fill in the blank person). I really want to keep my drive, but be concerned with the goals I set for myself, and not how well someone else is doing at achieving them.
This most recently hindered my performance during the 5K I ran in Norfolk over the weekend. I was very hot and if you humidity could be over 100%, I think it was. This did not deter me from worming my way to the front of the pack before the race began, and then trying to keep up with those in the front who were use to running the 5K at a 7 minute mile pace. I lasted for a good 1/2 mile before I realized we had only ran a half mile, and I was completely out of breath. Now I don't mean to brag or sound like I'm some amazing athlete, but I can regularly run 3 miles without killing myself, so being dead after a 1/2 mile, this is not good...
I was talking to my mom after the run, and how I felt this deep drive that I had to run as fast as everyone and as they passed me, I was a failure, and she said, in her typically endearing way "you need to get over that" and then continued with "you know those blinder things they have for horses, you need those!"
She was pretty funny, but she was also right. I need to figure out a way to put blinders on myself, not just in running, but also in life. I'm always so concerned with be happier, stronger, more successful, and just plain better than (fill in the blank person). I really want to keep my drive, but be concerned with the goals I set for myself, and not how well someone else is doing at achieving them.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Running...literally....except not
So I feel like I have been running aroung like a chicken with it's head cut of since my post last week, but I have yet to actually run. Meaning because things have been crazy, I have totally been slacking on my training, and now I am supposed to run a 5K this weekend. Which a 5K is nothing compared to a half-marathon, but I was actually hoping to get a good time, and not barely scoot in at the 30 minute mark, which is probably what I will end up doing.
My Grandma has been staying with my parents this week, and therefore several nights have been devoted to Grandma time. Shout out to Gram and her 83rd birthday yesterday!! Our tradition since she hit the big 8-0 was to get her sex on the beach for her birthday. And before you get totally grossed out I mean the drink, not the action. We started this when we were down in Puerto Rico about to go out on a Cruise for her 80th birthday, and found our way to Senor Frogs as a family (our Family is not like most). Anyway, we continued the tradition last night, and added some fried oreos!! (trust me, your life will never me the same)
Last night Jonathan and I also began pet sitting for the weekend for Ike and Beau, a golden retreiver and a black lab, both are around 12 years old, and are so funny to see around Mackenzie who is literally running circles around them. We will have them all weekend which makes this weekend a little more stressful.
Tomorrow I am leaving right from work to stay with some friends so that I don't have very far to drive for my run in the morning. Jonathan has drill all weekend so I will probably get the brunt of taking care of the dogs, but luckily they don't move very much. :)
I know this post was totally random, but I needed to try and calm myself a little, and this randomness is where my head is right now. So now I will do a typical Jen, and make some lists and an estimated timeline for the remainder of my day... good thing Jonathan and I are married because I don't know if anyone else could handle the 'analness' we both have as well as each other can...
My Grandma has been staying with my parents this week, and therefore several nights have been devoted to Grandma time. Shout out to Gram and her 83rd birthday yesterday!! Our tradition since she hit the big 8-0 was to get her sex on the beach for her birthday. And before you get totally grossed out I mean the drink, not the action. We started this when we were down in Puerto Rico about to go out on a Cruise for her 80th birthday, and found our way to Senor Frogs as a family (our Family is not like most). Anyway, we continued the tradition last night, and added some fried oreos!! (trust me, your life will never me the same)
Last night Jonathan and I also began pet sitting for the weekend for Ike and Beau, a golden retreiver and a black lab, both are around 12 years old, and are so funny to see around Mackenzie who is literally running circles around them. We will have them all weekend which makes this weekend a little more stressful.
Tomorrow I am leaving right from work to stay with some friends so that I don't have very far to drive for my run in the morning. Jonathan has drill all weekend so I will probably get the brunt of taking care of the dogs, but luckily they don't move very much. :)
I know this post was totally random, but I needed to try and calm myself a little, and this randomness is where my head is right now. So now I will do a typical Jen, and make some lists and an estimated timeline for the remainder of my day... good thing Jonathan and I are married because I don't know if anyone else could handle the 'analness' we both have as well as each other can...
Friday, June 12, 2009
TGIF?
Why is it that everyone gets so excited about Friday? I know... the weekend, but why is it that we all inisit in working in jobs that make us exclaim every Friday...THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!!?? I know, I know...money, but everyone in a normal 9-5 seems to always feel that way. Like every week they work in a job that they can't stand so much that every Friday is like a special present from God. That's Sad, and I don't want that for my life.
I have worked very hard recently to begin enjoying my job, and not just seeing it as a paycheck, while I don't always love it (see my previous post), I do really enjoy the people I work with, colleagues and members.
I have discovered that you have to find the parts of your job you really enjoy and focus on those, yes bad things will happen, and if you are a supervisor of any kind, they will probably happen often, but being miserable 40 hours or more a week doesn't make for an overall happy and faith filled life.
So while this Friday I am excited (for my steak and pretty dress I will be wearing tomorrow), I refuse to dread Monday, and instead will work hard to look forward to the enjoyable parts.
I have worked very hard recently to begin enjoying my job, and not just seeing it as a paycheck, while I don't always love it (see my previous post), I do really enjoy the people I work with, colleagues and members.
I have discovered that you have to find the parts of your job you really enjoy and focus on those, yes bad things will happen, and if you are a supervisor of any kind, they will probably happen often, but being miserable 40 hours or more a week doesn't make for an overall happy and faith filled life.
So while this Friday I am excited (for my steak and pretty dress I will be wearing tomorrow), I refuse to dread Monday, and instead will work hard to look forward to the enjoyable parts.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Audited.
Yesterday was a very stressful day. We finally had the day that I, as an assistant branch manager, had been dreading...we were audited. Those of you who know me, know that I tend to be a little high-strung, and yesterday definitely brought me to the edge, and tangled me a little.
Now as a disclaimer, in terms of audits and auditors, ours really aren't that bad, in fact our auditors themselves are very nice, but having someone punch holes and find mistakes in the work you do, all day long, doesn't make for the best day.
According to the auditors, we overall, didn't do too bad, just a few minor things.... but as the girl who still doesn't understand why people say "no ones perfect", this was like a punch in the gut. I can't get into too many details of the audit due to confidentiality, but there was one thing particularly that came to light that involved the honesty of a couple of my colleagues, and that really bothered me. I am a very trusting person, mainly because I don't lie, and if I try, infants can read through it, so the idea of being deceiptful escapes me. And I'm not completely sure that my colleagues were intentionally being deceiptful, but I'm having trouble understanding another point of view. (One of my flaws)
Needless to say the action yesterday resulted in 2 glasses of wine and a bowl of icecream last night. I also managed to wake up at 3:30 in the morning and wasn't able to go back to sleep for about an hour due to worrying about this situation.
Now that I am fully awake and into the groove of my workday everything seems a little better, and it's not the end of the world, but boy to I have trouble convincing myself of that when I'm in 'that' place. You know 'that' place, the place where it seems that your problems are bigger than anyone elses in the world and you would gladly trade places with anyone because there is no solution. I tend to go to this place when something bad and stressful happens, but after a goodnight sleep, I usually realize there are people a lot worse off and I am a total drama queen for thinking I have the worst problems in the world.
Anyway, as previously stated, I'm doing a lot better this morning, and looking forward to Devin and Sarah's nuptials this weekend. What makes their wedding weekend even better is that I just had a chef from the Aberdeen Barn (where they are having their rehearsal dinner) come into the branch, and I was able to change my healthly order of salmon, to the not as healthy, but so much more delicious prime rib, yuuuuummm :)
Now as a disclaimer, in terms of audits and auditors, ours really aren't that bad, in fact our auditors themselves are very nice, but having someone punch holes and find mistakes in the work you do, all day long, doesn't make for the best day.
According to the auditors, we overall, didn't do too bad, just a few minor things.... but as the girl who still doesn't understand why people say "no ones perfect", this was like a punch in the gut. I can't get into too many details of the audit due to confidentiality, but there was one thing particularly that came to light that involved the honesty of a couple of my colleagues, and that really bothered me. I am a very trusting person, mainly because I don't lie, and if I try, infants can read through it, so the idea of being deceiptful escapes me. And I'm not completely sure that my colleagues were intentionally being deceiptful, but I'm having trouble understanding another point of view. (One of my flaws)
Needless to say the action yesterday resulted in 2 glasses of wine and a bowl of icecream last night. I also managed to wake up at 3:30 in the morning and wasn't able to go back to sleep for about an hour due to worrying about this situation.
Now that I am fully awake and into the groove of my workday everything seems a little better, and it's not the end of the world, but boy to I have trouble convincing myself of that when I'm in 'that' place. You know 'that' place, the place where it seems that your problems are bigger than anyone elses in the world and you would gladly trade places with anyone because there is no solution. I tend to go to this place when something bad and stressful happens, but after a goodnight sleep, I usually realize there are people a lot worse off and I am a total drama queen for thinking I have the worst problems in the world.
Anyway, as previously stated, I'm doing a lot better this morning, and looking forward to Devin and Sarah's nuptials this weekend. What makes their wedding weekend even better is that I just had a chef from the Aberdeen Barn (where they are having their rehearsal dinner) come into the branch, and I was able to change my healthly order of salmon, to the not as healthy, but so much more delicious prime rib, yuuuuummm :)
Monday, June 8, 2009
Good Weekends always Fly by!
So this weekend was a very good one, but it seems that the best weekends always fly by so quickly!
On Friday Jonathan and I had a date night. We went to Andy's Pizza, a place right across the street from us, that we had yet to check out. It turns out we like the place a lot and are considering it for family dinner with our families, but Dino's still has slightly better food. After that we went shopping in Jefferson Commons, and with Jonathan's blessing I got a new pink dress for Sarah and Devin's wedding. Jonathan got some new kicks, that he totally enjoys for two reasons, they were cheap and they give him about 2 inches.
I worked Saturday morning, but it was a very low stress saturday and was done by noon, so no biggie. When I got off I got changed and headed to a baby shower with my Mom. The shower was for a friend of ours from church who has been trying to get pregnant for three years and has been through a number of mis-carriages. It was so wonderful to see her happily carrying a beach ball under shirt (now 8 months along).
Saturday night Jonathan and I ventured over to the new Fresh Market right around the corner from us and bought some delicious bleu cheese burgers and rolls! I can't wait to go back and explore the store longer when it's a little less crowded. Jonathan grilled the burgers and toasted the buns, and though his perfectionism wasn't satisfied completely, I totally enjoyed mine! After we decided we ate way too much for dinner and there is never anything good on TV saturday night, we hopped in the car with Mackenzie to head over to Riverview Park, about a mile and a half from our house. They have a two-mile paved path, so Mackenny and I ran, and Jonathan rollerbladed. I was pretty proud of myself, I was able to run the 2 mile path in 16 minutes. Basically 8 minute miles, and since I never run for speed, only for distance, I was excited to see how well I could do if I push myself.
Sunday morning, I woke up to do my usual weekly 'long' run, I was supposed to do 7 miles this weekend, but I think the 2 mile speed run the night before took a little out of me so I did 5 1/2 miles and decided the two runs together equaled more than 7 and that's fine. After, I maintained my Sunday morning routine, and went to church and 'brunch' with the brunch bunch from church. (We have been going to breakfast together after church for about 5 or 6 years). Then it was home to get ready for our 'photo shoot'. Or should I say, Mackenzie's photo shoot. Jonathan has been working very hard to promote our business Arf! Pet Care (www.arfpetcare.com), and we are now getting another article written about us, this time in the Virginia Pilot extension paper "Inside Business". Like our article in the Daily Press, when the photographer came to take pictures of 'us', it really meant Mackenzie with Jonathan and I holding up the background. Either way it was fun, and I was impressed by how well behaved Mackenzie was.
Finally, after the photo shoot, Jonathan and I got ready to go to the free Mercyme concert at Busch Gardens. We met up with my my brother, and a couple friends from church. The concert was great, and I was able to trick Jonathan into doing something 'churchy' :) After the concert we rode Griffon in the dark, which was awesome!! I also did my 'special' run/swim out of the park, which embarassed Jonathan, but everyone else seemed to enjoy.
Overall we had a wonderful weekend, and when I write about it, it seems like we did so much, but it definitely went by so quickly. I wish fun weekends would go slow like work weeks, and work weeks would fly by like fun weekends.
On Friday Jonathan and I had a date night. We went to Andy's Pizza, a place right across the street from us, that we had yet to check out. It turns out we like the place a lot and are considering it for family dinner with our families, but Dino's still has slightly better food. After that we went shopping in Jefferson Commons, and with Jonathan's blessing I got a new pink dress for Sarah and Devin's wedding. Jonathan got some new kicks, that he totally enjoys for two reasons, they were cheap and they give him about 2 inches.
I worked Saturday morning, but it was a very low stress saturday and was done by noon, so no biggie. When I got off I got changed and headed to a baby shower with my Mom. The shower was for a friend of ours from church who has been trying to get pregnant for three years and has been through a number of mis-carriages. It was so wonderful to see her happily carrying a beach ball under shirt (now 8 months along).
Saturday night Jonathan and I ventured over to the new Fresh Market right around the corner from us and bought some delicious bleu cheese burgers and rolls! I can't wait to go back and explore the store longer when it's a little less crowded. Jonathan grilled the burgers and toasted the buns, and though his perfectionism wasn't satisfied completely, I totally enjoyed mine! After we decided we ate way too much for dinner and there is never anything good on TV saturday night, we hopped in the car with Mackenzie to head over to Riverview Park, about a mile and a half from our house. They have a two-mile paved path, so Mackenny and I ran, and Jonathan rollerbladed. I was pretty proud of myself, I was able to run the 2 mile path in 16 minutes. Basically 8 minute miles, and since I never run for speed, only for distance, I was excited to see how well I could do if I push myself.
Sunday morning, I woke up to do my usual weekly 'long' run, I was supposed to do 7 miles this weekend, but I think the 2 mile speed run the night before took a little out of me so I did 5 1/2 miles and decided the two runs together equaled more than 7 and that's fine. After, I maintained my Sunday morning routine, and went to church and 'brunch' with the brunch bunch from church. (We have been going to breakfast together after church for about 5 or 6 years). Then it was home to get ready for our 'photo shoot'. Or should I say, Mackenzie's photo shoot. Jonathan has been working very hard to promote our business Arf! Pet Care (www.arfpetcare.com), and we are now getting another article written about us, this time in the Virginia Pilot extension paper "Inside Business". Like our article in the Daily Press, when the photographer came to take pictures of 'us', it really meant Mackenzie with Jonathan and I holding up the background. Either way it was fun, and I was impressed by how well behaved Mackenzie was.
Finally, after the photo shoot, Jonathan and I got ready to go to the free Mercyme concert at Busch Gardens. We met up with my my brother, and a couple friends from church. The concert was great, and I was able to trick Jonathan into doing something 'churchy' :) After the concert we rode Griffon in the dark, which was awesome!! I also did my 'special' run/swim out of the park, which embarassed Jonathan, but everyone else seemed to enjoy.
Overall we had a wonderful weekend, and when I write about it, it seems like we did so much, but it definitely went by so quickly. I wish fun weekends would go slow like work weeks, and work weeks would fly by like fun weekends.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
I know she knows who I am...
Ever said those words? Well the truth is, she, or he, might not know who you are. Why am I bringing this up? because there are those times you avoid eye contact with someone because you think there is a history or because you think they know you, and it's been so long that you just really don't want to talk to them, well the truth is, maybe they don't know who you are, or don't remember.
I have been working at the New Town branch with Maria Hardin, an older hispanic lady, for about a year now, it was just this morning that we realized we lived right down the street from one another for about two years, and never met... And by right down the street I don't mean she lived at one end of a mile long street and I lived at the other, I mean she literally lived 2 houses down from the small cul-de-sac I called home for my High School Years. Once we realized this we also realized we knew some of the same people from the neghborhood and my brother use play with her neighbors children all the time! Yet, as far as we both know, neither of us remember meeting each other before 1st Advantage.
This brings up another point, can you imagine all the people that live around you or are a friend of a friend, and run in similar circles, but you never meet them. There are so many interesting people in the world and while I might have over 600 friends on facebook, I have yet to come close meeting them all. This also makes me hopeful for my life. I have so many wonderful friends, but many of them I just met in the last 7 years, there's also a number that I knew in high school and have become friends with in the last year. I can only imagine the wonderful and interesting people I will get to meet in the future, and how current 'aquaintences' will turn into friends. Pretty cool.
I have been working at the New Town branch with Maria Hardin, an older hispanic lady, for about a year now, it was just this morning that we realized we lived right down the street from one another for about two years, and never met... And by right down the street I don't mean she lived at one end of a mile long street and I lived at the other, I mean she literally lived 2 houses down from the small cul-de-sac I called home for my High School Years. Once we realized this we also realized we knew some of the same people from the neghborhood and my brother use play with her neighbors children all the time! Yet, as far as we both know, neither of us remember meeting each other before 1st Advantage.
This brings up another point, can you imagine all the people that live around you or are a friend of a friend, and run in similar circles, but you never meet them. There are so many interesting people in the world and while I might have over 600 friends on facebook, I have yet to come close meeting them all. This also makes me hopeful for my life. I have so many wonderful friends, but many of them I just met in the last 7 years, there's also a number that I knew in high school and have become friends with in the last year. I can only imagine the wonderful and interesting people I will get to meet in the future, and how current 'aquaintences' will turn into friends. Pretty cool.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
I'm Baaaaackkkk!!
Life got busy...married, new job, sick mom, really busy job, sick mom again, another new job, finally got rid of the old job and the stress and therapy because of the job, some down-time, but now I'm back, and promise to be better than ever(as far as blogging is concerned)!!
I feel like this blog will be a good way to think through my emotions and spend time with myself, which I'm horrible at... So while I spend time with myself and my thoughts you all can enjoy :)
Thought for the day: Can I just be in-between AND be happy??
I feel like sometimes I'm on a roller coaster, my life it soooo up, and then feels down, and then up and then down, see above for an example, but recently I been feeling in-between. I always feel the most happy when I have something to look forward to like vacation, an evening out, or just a break from work, but recently, due to a lack of funds, I haven't had the pleasure of enjoying my normal 'looking forward to something' highs. I guess it's my nature of continually looking for the 'next' thing, that makes those highs happen, but in the old nature vs. nuture argument, you can't argue with walking with ease at 8 1/2 months.
I would love to be more like my brother who enjoys life and is usually not concerned with the 'next' thing unless pushed for an answer. I think I am afraid I will lose my drive and ambition if I'm content in the moment, like I will not strive for better because I'm happy with where I'm at.
So my goal (since I can't help the ambition) is to work to let life happen to me instead of the reverse...
I feel like this blog will be a good way to think through my emotions and spend time with myself, which I'm horrible at... So while I spend time with myself and my thoughts you all can enjoy :)
Thought for the day: Can I just be in-between AND be happy??
I feel like sometimes I'm on a roller coaster, my life it soooo up, and then feels down, and then up and then down, see above for an example, but recently I been feeling in-between. I always feel the most happy when I have something to look forward to like vacation, an evening out, or just a break from work, but recently, due to a lack of funds, I haven't had the pleasure of enjoying my normal 'looking forward to something' highs. I guess it's my nature of continually looking for the 'next' thing, that makes those highs happen, but in the old nature vs. nuture argument, you can't argue with walking with ease at 8 1/2 months.
I would love to be more like my brother who enjoys life and is usually not concerned with the 'next' thing unless pushed for an answer. I think I am afraid I will lose my drive and ambition if I'm content in the moment, like I will not strive for better because I'm happy with where I'm at.
So my goal (since I can't help the ambition) is to work to let life happen to me instead of the reverse...
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